Switch actuating handle for vacuum cleaners



Feb; 13, 1945. B BE 2,369,519

SWITCH ACTUATING HANDLE FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Aug- 7. 1940 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 13, 1945 U'Nfl'TiE D; ,sTAr-Es PATENT OFFICE j 752,369,519' A SWITCHACTUATINGIIANDLE FOR -VACUUM CLEANERS Howard B.Barber, Ghicago, Ill.,,-assignor to Montgomery Ward & 00., Incorporated,Chi- 'cago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 7, 1940,Serial No. 351,671

1 Claim.

close to the floor and rests on the floor during use. In reaching theswitch of the tank type cleaners now on the market, other thanapplicants, it is normally necessary for the operator to bend over andpress the switch manually, an awkward and inconvenient operation- In thepresent device it is merely necessary to actuate the handle ofthe vacuumcleaner as a foot treadle, or otherwise, and the switch is therebyoperated conveniently and without special effort.

It is also a further object of the invention to provide a rigid handlemovably journaled at least at one end and so arranged as to operativelyactuate a toggle switch plunger.

It is also another object of this invention to provide a handle means;and switchmeans for a vacuum cleaner which has a'pleasing appearance,the switch being entirely hidden and protected from breakage by 'arugged handle arrangement.

It is still furtherthe object of the invention to provide an arrangementwhich is relatively simple, easily manufactured and assembled, andinexpensive, the component parts being readily procured on the market orreadily manufactured by economical methods.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention will appear as the natureof the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting sub--v stantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement ofparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing- Figure 1 shows a tanktype of vacuum cleaner having ahandle of the preferred type as disclosed in this application;

Figure 2 shows a fragmentary longitudinal section through said vacuumcleaner, illustrating the details of the handle and switch arrangementin enlarged form as compared to Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, except that the handle is shownas depressed as-it is after moving. the switch plunger downward andactuating the switch.

Referring to the drawing and particularly Figure 1, there is illustratedin side elevation a vacuum tank such as employed in tank type horizonta1vacuum cleaners. The tank is provided with skids l I, and a convenienthandle l2 located on the top side.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the handle comprises a ruggedfloating hand grip member 20 of metal or plastic, or the like withenlarged end portions 22 and 24- mounted at each end telescopically inhollow brackets l3 and I6, secured to the, tank. Each bracket isprovided with opposed vertical slots or grooves 26 and 28 in the insideside walls, in which the end of pins I4 and 30 passing through andprojecting from the enlarged ends Hand 24 of the handle ride therebyproviding fioating pivotal, movement of the grip member 20 toward andaway from the tank.

The bracket 16 may be secured to the outside of the tank by a nut 32threaded on the shank 34 extending through the tank of a suitable switchI9 located within the tank, the switch having a switch operating plunger[1 extending through the shank and engaging the underside of theenlarged end 22 of the grip member 20. A spring I8 is applied to exertpressure upwardly against the member 20.

The grip member 20 is preferably knurled or otherwise provided with atread 36 so that by pressing'the member downwardly by the weight of theoperators foot, the plunger ll of the switch may be actuated to eitherturn the vacuum producing apparatus of the vacuum cleaner on or oil atwill as desired.

As will appear from the drawing, the enlarged end portions'22 and 24 ofthe grip member 20 are adapted to cooperate with the bracket members toprovide a rugged handle structure of pleasing appearance, and yet,without appreci ably interfering with the strength of the member and itsbrackets; the member is adapted to operate as a treadle, to operate theswitch, the relative range of movement in such operation beingillustrated in Figure 3 wherein the left end of the grip member is showndepressed to operate the plunger I1 of the toggle switch. The handle .is-held resiliently away from the tank in the bracket I3 by the resilientmeans 21.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto.

but may be embodied in various mechanical forms and arrangements. Asvarious changes in consaid handle having a central grip portion and end10 connecting portions, spaced brackets on saidtank adjacent each endconnecting portion of said handle for supporting said handle spacedlyfrom said tank and substantially parallel therewith, means for securingone end connecting portion of said 15 handle in one bracket for pivotalmotion of the grip portion toward and away from said tank, means in saidother bracket for securing said other end connecting portion to saidbracket while afiording limited movement thereof toward and away fromthe tank, means within said last named bracket for urging the last namedend connecting portion to the limit of its movement away from the tankinto carrying position and normally maintaining the handle in suchposition, a switch. associated with said last named bracket and tank andmeans responsive to movement of the handle toward the tank in oppositionto said resilient means for actuating the switch.

HOWARD B. BARBER.

